Multi-sport swing training apparatus

Abstract

A multi-sport training apparatus for teaching and improving hitting and throwing skills, including an adjustable waist belt with a buckle; a resilient connector having a distal end and a proximal end, two clamps disposed on the waist belt such that when said waist belt is worn at least one clamp is located near the iliac crest of the user's leading hip and may be employed for adjustably capturing and retaining the proximal end of the resilient connector, a swivelable clip disposed on the distal end of said resilient connector, and a sports implement / hand connector having a hook for attachment to the clip. Also disclosed is a method of using the apparatus to teach hitting and throwing skills.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0001]1. Technical Field[0002]The present invention relates generally to sports training devices, and more particularly to swing training apparatus, and still more particularly to a multi-sport swing training apparatus for use in teaching efficient and powerful striking and throwing motions in ballistic motion sports.[0003]2. Background Art[0004]Success in many sports requires the precise use of a powerful motion to propel a ball or object, either by throwing it or by using an implement (e.g., racquet, club or bat) to strike it. Though the sports can be quite diverse (e.g., golf, tennis, and baseball), there are significant similarities in the biomechanics and kinesiology of how power is generated and applied within the throwing and hitting skills characteristics of these sports.[0005]There are several key principles of effective power generation in throwing and hitting motions. First, one must have a stable base, or platform, from which to generate power....

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0015]The multi-sport swing training apparatus of the present invention links and maintains the connection between the lower body and the arms. It includes a resilient connector that attaches to the forward hip—the left hip for right handed athletes—whose powerful rotation early in the downswing is instrumental in generating the proper sequence. The material of the resilient connector is preferably surgical tubing with precise elasticity. The other end of the trainer is a specially designed adaptable handle that attaches directly to the implement, for example, a bat, tennis racquet or golf club, or the wrist when the sports implement is a ball and the skill to be learned is throwing. These features result in the following objects and advantages:

[0026]Another object of the present invention is to provide a swing training apparatus that facilitates a natural follow-through motion after impact, guided by the trainer's ability to maintain the lower and upper body link. Again, no conscious effort is required.

Problems solved by technology

Amateurs struggle mightily with this.

Amateurs are often overloaded with swing thoughts and doubts, which go a long way towards producing tension in the arms and hands, and limiting power.

In part this happens because most people have never felt the proper sequence that results in unloading and transferring stored power.

For example, in tennis it often happens early in the swing due to faulty footwork and occasionally bad advice (“Take the racquet back early!”) which leads to an all arm motion.

In baseball, the difficulty of adjusting to various pitches makes it hard to apply the stored power.

In golf, many people rush at the top of the swing, turning the shoulders too early relative to the hips, and this results in casting the club, loss of power, and a sliced shot in most cases.

To date, no individual sport swing training apparatus has adequately addressed the key issues of power discussed above.

And specifically, no swing training device on the market attempts to train for multiple sports by harnessing the proper sequence of muscle movements for generating and applying power.

None have been devised to correctly harness power, reinforce the proper sequence in applying it, and adapt to multiple sports.

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